Expectations?

I had a rough idea of what to expect and how things would run. Far from my expectations is what took place.

So we had gone to look for food- so says my Shona custom. We went to pay the bride price for my younger brother’s girlfiend-soon-to-be-wife and we came back with small change.

What was required of us was huge in my sight. What follows is strictly my opinion.

They wanted 16 cows.

Yep, 16. We didn’t even commit any offence to warrant them asking for that many cows. Maybe we overdressed or they just wanted a lot of money apiece since there were so many of them.

The result?
There’s now tension over finances which never existed when these two were still girlfriend and boyfriend. Maybe they should have just continued being that. No wonder many people elope and after that the bride price is seldom high unless some mishap happens to the wife before payment of anything.

They want 5 live cows.
We’ve got none in our non-existent kraal. We’ll look for them anyhow. I guess that’s the price you pay for loving someone and wanting them to stay with you for the rest of your life.

Maturity plays a part when you start thinking of this new bond that’s being formed. It’s not like we just went back to our house and they had a party after we left and we cried and will forget about it. The husband and wife’s finances are going to be dry for sometime when they are meant to be enjoying staying together. And when they have issues they want the mukuwasha to help out with- who’s to blame when he says he’s till saving for the 5 cows?

My bone? None. Just had to vent it out before the muroora comes and be the one to cool off the rest of the crew whilst we await her joining our family for good.

The other side of this? My brothers want revenge on my bride price.
What?!!!
They think they can do the same when some guy wants to take me to his house.

They have a long wait coz there’s no guy wanting to take me out for lunch right now so the home bit will take much longer than they think. MUCH longer.Expectations?

I had a rough idea of what to expect and how things would run. Far from my expectations is what took place.

So we had gone to look for food- so says my Shona custom. We went to pay the bride price for my younger brother’s wife and we came back with small change.
What was required of us was huge in my sight. What follows is strictly my opinion. They wanted 16 cows.

Yep. We didn’t even commit any offence to warrant them asking for that many cows. Maybe we overdressed or they just wanted a lot of money apiece since there were so many of them.

The result?
There’s now tension over finances which never existed when these two were still girlfriend and boyfriend. Maybe they should have just continued being that. No wonder many people elope and after that the bride price is seldom high unless some mishap happens to the wife before payment of anything.

They want 5 live cows.
We’ve got none in our non-existent kraal. We’ll look for them anyhow. I guess that’s the price you pay for loving someone and wanting them to stay with you for the rest of your life.

Maturity plays a part when you start thinking of this new bond that’s being formed. It’s not like we just went back to our house and they had a party after we left and we cried and will forget about it. The husband and wife’s finances are going to be dry for sometime when they are meant to be enjoying staying together. And when they have issues they want the mukuwasha to help out with- who’s to blame when he says he’s till saving for the 5 cows?

My bone? None. Just had to vent it out before the muroora comes and be the one to cool off the rest of the crew whilst we await her joining our family for good.

The other side of this? My brothers want revenge on my bride price.
What?!!!
They think they can do the same when some guy wants to take me to his house.

They have a long wait coz there’s no guy wanting to take me out for lunch right now so the home bit will take much longer than they think. MUCH longer.